Body And Soul

("Body and Soul"  jazz song written in 1930 by Johnny Green.)

A work crew of nine showed up early yesterday morning:  Deb, Craig, Dave, Clay, Jester, Anthony, John, Ray, and Lorraine, and there was very little chitchat before they self-assigned positions and got to work.  In no time at all they were a well-oiled machine, amazing to watch, and watching is what I do best.  If you can't be of help, stay out of the way.

We lucked out on the weather; it was cool but sunny and there was no wind.  Cool was good because this crew, men and women, worked up a real sweat splitting a mountain of big rounds into usable firewood and stacking it.  Deb and Craig took time to tend to some other tasks for me as well before going right back to the chain that had been formed to pass wood from the splitter to the stack.  The only time that machine stopped running was to get a gas fill up.

Ray, John's son, was in a wheelchair recovering from a motorcycle accident last year.  He and I "supervised" (in other words, we watched) until the guys figured out that Ray's chair would put him at the right height to run the lever for the ram and put him on the team.  The grin on that young man's face when he was included would warm the heart of the most-hardened Grinch.

In what seemed like no time at all, the crew had stacked at least three cords of wood and covered it with new tarps.  I am set for the rest of the winter.  There are no words big enough to really express my gratitude for all everyone had done, unasked.  They warmed my heart, body, and soul.  A special thanks to Dave, who organized this day.

As quickly as they had come, they were gone by lunchtime, with a big sendoff of hugs all around.  All but Clay, who stayed behind for white chili and welcome conversation.  I also packed my fourth son a to-go meal for his dinner.

With no need to be miserly, I fed Stove a big helping of wood.  Bess and the cats stretched out on the floor and we all luxuriated in a warm house.  Ahhh.

It was a better-than-good day!